Published August 23, 2008 03:45 am - ORWELL — Imagine you’re Anthony Oscar. An injury thrust you into the starting quarterback role.
An Adam Raeder column: GV shows its heart
Mustangs deserve an Oscar in beating Jefferson
ADAM RAEDER
Star Beacon
ORWELL — Imagine you’re Anthony Oscar. An injury thrust you into the starting quarterback role.
Now you’re staring down the biggest play of your life.
You’ve led Grand Valley through four quarters, but now it’s overtime and you’re down to one play.
You’re in your senior year, so you know first hand how rough it’s been to be a Mustang. But now you’re so close.
So close to getting your team it’s first win in over a year. More importantly, so close to getting your first win over Jefferson.
You can almost smell victory over the sweat of your tired linemen.
You set up in the shotgun and take a look at the end zone. Fourth-and-goal. That’s where you’ve got to go.
You take a look over the defense then signal for the snap.
Things go wrong right away — the snap is low. You have to grab it off the ground. By the time you look up, no one is open. You need to buy time.
You role out, the long legs on your 6-foot-4 frame quickly eating up the distance between you and the sideline. You’re running out of room. You need to make a decision — pass or run.
The cornerback does, too. As you look up, you think you see it, he’s coming toward you.
You make your decision. You unwind your long arm and let go.
You know what rides on this — everything.
Now, imagine you’re A.J. Henson.
By virtue of your years, you’ve escaped the frustrations Oscar’s had. You’re only a freshman.